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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. T. SMITH. ELECTRIC OUT-OUT.

No. 407,455. Patented July 23, 1889 b INVENTOI? 7 BY I ATTORNEYS.

N, PETERS, Pholo-Lilhngnpher. Washington. D c.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. T. SMITH.

ELECTRIC OUT-OUT. No. 407,455. Patented July 23, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH T. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,455, dated July 23, 1889. Application filed January 30, 1889. Serial No. 298,122. (No model.)

- trio cut-off thatis intended for use in electric circuits, so as to cut out the battery and prevent the running down of the same in case short-circuiting should take place at any time and the invention consists of an electric cutoff which comprises a receptacle for sand or other suitable material, a valve for closing the bottom opening of the same, an electromagnet in the gas-lighting or other circuit,-

the armature of which operates said valve, so as to open or close the bottom opening of the receptacle, a fulcrumed contact lever having a funnel at one end and a weight at the opposite end, a pivoted and weighted contact-lever provided with a stop-shoulder for the fulcrumed contact-lever, means for setting said levers in contact with each other, and a receiving-funnel located vertically be low the funnel of the fulcrumed contact-lever, so as to collect the sand discharged and return it from time to time to the main receptacle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of my improved elect 'ic cut-off, showing its connection with a gas-lighting circuit. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 a detail bottom view of the valve and valvc'lever of the sand-receptacle.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a supporting-bracket, of Wood or other suitable insulating material, and B a receptacle which is supported on the bracket or platform A by suitable standards 0 C, said receptacle being preferably made of glass or other suitable material, so as to readily observe the quantity of sand or other suitable material in the same. The receptacle B is closed by a lid 13 and provided in its bottom with an opening 2), which is closed by a valve 1), that is arranged at the outer end of a fulcrumed 1ever E the opposite end of which is acted upon by a curved or inclined arm d, attached to the armature D of an electro-magnet D, which latter is located in the gas-lighting or other circuit. The outer end of the fulcrum ed leverB is also acted upon bya spring b which returns the valve b into normal position, so as to close the opening I) of the receptacle B as soon as the armature D is 'released from the electro-magnet D. VVhenever the armature of the electro-magnet D is attracted, the inclined arm (1 of the same actuates the fulcrumed valve-leverB and moves the valve b to one side of the bottom opening 1) of the receptacle B, so as to permit the discharge of the sand or other material in the receptacle through the bottom opening of the same. Vertically below the opening of the receptacle B is arranged a funnel E, which is attached to the inner end of a fulcrumed contact-lever E, the opposite end of which is provided with a curved and screw-threaded arm 2, to which an adjustable balance-weight E is applied.

The outer end of the contact lever E is made pointed, and forms contact with a stopshoulder f of a contact-piece F, which is pivoted at its lower end to the bracket A, and also provided with a threaded arm f, extending at right angles thereto, and carrying an adjustable weight f so that as soon as .the contactpiece F is released by the tilting of the contact-lever E the contact-piece F is dropped by the action of its weight, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. At the upper end of the contact-piece F, back of the stop-shout der f, is arranged a segment f along which the contact-point of the valve-lever E moves when the tilting action of the contact-levers takes place, said segment serving to exert a frictional action on the pointed outer edge of the contact-lever E, so as to remove any corroded particles produced by the sparking of the current at the contact-s ot' the levers E and F. The contact -piece F is returned to its normal position of contact with the contactlever E by a lifting-rod g and fulcrumed lever g. Vertically below the funnel E is arranged in the bracket A an opening at, having a flange a at its upper edge, while below said opening is arranged a receiving-funnel H,

too

which is provided with a cireun'lferenlial llange it, that is guided in grooved ways 71. at the under side of the bracket A. The tunnel. H is provided with a suitable valve 71 having a stern ha. The f unncl it serves to collect the sand or other material. which is discharged from the main receptacle 1; and passed through the funnel. E, so as to return it from time to time to the receptacle 1.5, in which case the valve closing the bottom opening of the funnel ll is opened, so that the contents of the funnel can be readily dropped into the receptacle B. The tunnel it is then replaced to its normal position at the underside of the bracket A, as shown in the drawings.

The operation of my improved electric cutoff is as follows: \Vhenevera short-circuiting of the gas-lighting or other circuit at any point in the same takes place for some reason or other, the armature .l) of the electric-magnet I) is attracted, and thereby the valve- .lever 53 pushed sidewise, so as to open the bot-tom opening of the receptacle 13 and cause the discharge ot. the sand or other material from the san'ie. The sand drops into the funnel. E at the inner end of the contact-lever E and causes the tilting of the same as soon as the weightot. the sand overcomes the counterbalalicing-weight at the outer end of the contact-lever E. As soon as the tilting takes place, the contact-piece l? is dropped, and thereby the contact of the lever E and piece F interrupted. Consequently the gas-lighting circuit is broken, the battery cut out, and the valve-lever 13 returned to its normal position. by its spring U whereby the bottom opening of the receptacle is closed and the discharge of sand interrupted. By breaking the circuit by the action of the cutoff the running down of the battery, which would otherwise be the case, is prevented. The sand in the funnel E is slowly discharged, after the contact-lever E has been tilted from the small ODGIl'llllgflil the bottom of the funnel E, in to the receiving-funnel ll, at'ter which the contact-lever E returns into its normal. position, but without forming contact with the piece E. For producing the proper working of the gasdighting or other circuit, it is necessary to re-cstablish the contact of: the lever E and piece E, which is readily done by the settinglever g and rod g, by which the contact-piece is returned into raised position and into contact with the lever E. \Vhenever, therefore, the circuit is cut out, it is first necessary to tind the detective place where the short-circuiting has taken place, restore the circuit to proper condition, and then reestablish the contacts of the lever E and piece l after wh ich the circuit is again in condition for proper working.

By means of: the balance-weight of the contactlevers the length of time that passes before the contact is broken and the battery cutout is regulated. It? a shorter time isdesired, the balance-weight of the lever E is adjusted on its rod toward the fulcrum of the same,

while for a longer contact: it is turned in the opposite direction on its threaded rod.

My improved cutot'l:' for electric circuits is very reliable and etlfecti ve in action, inc teases readily whenever the sand has run out from the main receptacle, so as to require the return of the same by the receiving-tunnel, and prevents in a reliable manner the running down of the battery, as it indicates whenever short-circuiting has taken, place, so as to necessitate the revision oil:' the circuit, the repairing of the defective parts, and the r astering of the circuit to its normal eoiulitnm of work.

Having thus described my i nven tion, I elai m as new and desire to seen re by Letters Patent- 1. In an electric cut-ol'li', the combination of areceptaele for sand or other suitable material, a ftllOl'tllllGCl and spririg-actuated valvelever for closing thebottom opening of said receptacle, an electro-magnet in a iiormally-open circuit, an armature 'tor operatin said valvelever, a fulcrumed and weighted contact-lever provided with a tunnel vertically below the discharge-opening of the receptacle, and a pivoted and weighted contact-piece for the outer end ot the contact-lever, the contact ot. the lever and eontact'piece being interrupted by the tilting of the contact-lever whenever the circuit is short-ctrcuitcd. and the funnel tilled with sand from the receptacle, substantially as set .t'orth.

2. In an electric out ell, the combination of a receptacle containing sand or other suitable material. and having a bottom opening, a t'ulcrn med an d spririg-actuated valve-lever, a valve at the outer end ot said lever below the bottom opening of the receptacle, an electro-ntagnct located. in a normally-open circuit, an armature ada )ted to operate the valve-lever and open the receptacle, and a circuit-breaking device operated by the discharge of sand from the receptacle when short-circuiting takes place, substantially as set forth.

The combination of a supporti lg-brack et, a receptacle for the sand or other suital ilema terial. supported on. said. bracket and providedv with a bottom opening, a 'lfulcrumed and spring-actuated valve-lever, an el|..-ctromagnet in. an electric circuit, an armatn re adapted to operate said 'alvedever when at.- tracted by the 'n'iagnet, a fulerumed (mntactlever provided with a funnel vertically below the discharge-opening ot the rme nacle, a pivoted contact-piece for the outer end of the contact-lever, and a receiving-tnnncl be low the tul'incl of the contact-leversupportei'l in ways at the 'undersii'le of the ln'z'leket, substantially as set forth.

4t. In an electric cut-oll, the ctnnbination of a receptacle for sand or othersuitable material, afulcrumed contactlever provided with a funnel at one end below the disehargc-opcnin g of: the receptacle and with an adjustable weight at the opposite end, and a pivoted and weighted contactdeco having a ingthe contact-levers into their normal position of contact after a cutting out of the battery has taken place, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

ADOLPI-I T. SMITH.

WVi tnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, MARTIN PETRY. 

